WildJoker Raffle's $17,000 Pot Draws Hopefuls to Comeback Inn in Highland

It’s a time-tested tradition: Selling raffle tickets to help raise money for a great cause. But thanks to Pat Carter, fundraising chairperson for the Huron Valley Optimist Club, there's a new twist on the old idea coming to town.

It’s called the , sponsered by the Optimist Club and Milford Rotary, and anyone playing has a chance to win big money. Right now, the winner will receive half of a $17,000 pot that goes up for grabs every Thursday night at the Comeback Inn in Highland. And if there is no winner this week, the pot will just continue to grow.

“It’s really hard to tell people what it is,” Carter said of the progressive raffle idea that is in its first year with the Huron Valley group. “But as soon as they see it, and when they see the board, they say, oh it’s really simple.”

The simple idea that is complicated to explain starts with 54 cards, including the two jokers, with one labeled as a wild joker, according to Carter. All the cards are then mixed up and divided into sealed, numbered envelopes and then placed in a locked display box.

During the weekly drawing, a ticket stub from a sold raffle ticket is pulled and the winner gets to claim one of the available envelopes off the board. The trick is to find the hidden wild joker card, which guarantees you half the pot. 

Raffle Supports Worthy Area Causes

Each week the wild joker card remains hidden, however, is another week for the pot to grow. And having a large jackpot a the end of the fundraiser is Carter's goal since not only will it be more exciting, but the larger the pot means more money earned for the two event sponsers. The Optimist Club and Rotary Club will split the other half of the pot, with a portion going to Comeback Inn as well, making it a potential big reward for all parties involved.

“It’s supporting the Optimist Club and it’s supporting the children in the school system,” Carter said. “That’s really the main focus here. My husband goes in there (Comeback Inn) and he doesn’t just like to sell a ticket. Doyle (Carter) likes to sell the Optimist Club.”

And selling the Optimist Club is easy, according to Carter, who explains how her husband hands out made-up cards to diners informing them about the club, as well as highlighting some of their activites and events. The majority of the club's activities focus on children, like the annual fishing derby or paying for bus transportation for local elementary school field trips. Or the essay contests that offer high school students scholarships or the family safety days at . 

“Our motto is bringing out the best in kids,” Carter said. “And everything we do is for the children in the Huron Valley school system.”

Every Card is a Winner

The wild joker card is not the only card with a payoff, however, since according to Carter, aces are worth $50 each and the other joker is worth $100.

“So far we’ve only had one person who has found an ace and we just did our 21st week,” Carter said. “There’s a lot of money on the board.”

And as the weekly pot continues to grow, so does the number of people who are starting to come out each week in hopes of a big win.

“It just started last week now that the public is starting to go whoa, there’s a lot of money in there,” Carter said. “And that’s starting to bring a lot of people into the restaurant now.”

Each Thursday night starting at 5 p.m., members from both the Rotary Club and Optimist Club are at the Comeback Inn selling raffle tickets for $1 and the drawing takes place at 9:30 pm. Tickets are also available online, however, or can be purchased at any time during the week at the Comeback Inn. You do not have to be present at the time of drawing to win.